In the future, Hof University of Applied Sciences would like to develop sustainability into one of its most important principles of action in its activities. To this end, Anja Grabmeier was recently introduced as the university’s new sustainability manager. But what exactly do we mean by the term “sustainability”? In order to clarify this, Anja Grabmeier and Professor Dr. Manuela Wimmer have drafted the Hof University of Applied Sciences’ understanding of sustainability and agreed on it with the university management, which we would like to quote here:
“The sustainable transformation of all areas of life is one of the central social challenges of our time. As a co-designer and initiator of sustainable development, the focus of sustainability at Hof University of Applied Sciences is the campus as a living space – learning and teaching, researching, transferring and working. At the heart of sustainability at Hof University of Applied Sciences are the members of the university – students, teachers, researchers and all employees. Sustainability lives through the responsibility of each individual. Each and every individual is invited to submit suggestions for sustainable development at, with and through Hof University of Applied Sciences and called upon to actively participate in its implementation. Through the integrative and participative approach, sustainability should not only be understood as an abstract concept, but should be lived in the concrete actions and thinking of all university members.
With the Green Tech philosophy of Hof University of Applied Sciences, which is based on the balance between environmental relevance, social compatibility and economic efficiency, living, learning and research at Hof University of Applied Sciences focuses on the goal of a climate-neutral and environmentally friendly, socially just as well as economically future-oriented environment. At Hof University of Applied Sciences, these ideas of sustainability are achieved through a close integration of theory, research and practice, taking into account the needs of university members and resource-conserving as well as responsible actions now and in the future. The responsible actions of all university members will be strengthened through the transfer of knowledge and competencies for sustainable development. Sustainability will be an elementary component of onboarding, continuing education and training for all teachers, researchers and employees. A university-wide module will be developed for students in each of the Bachelor’s and Master’s programs. Students can take this voluntarily and earn the sustainability topic certificate.”
